Key-operated recording means.



KEY OPERATBD RECORDING MEANS. u'rmomron HL2 nur: s1. 1901s. xq MODEL. v A =a sums-snm 1.

Np. 760,851. PATBNTEDMAY 24, `1904.

r W. AycRAwFoRD-PRosn l KEY OPBRATED REGURDING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27.1903.

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m N 31 a@ @vH/Meana y attained* To will whom, 'it may concern: l, l Be it known that LWILLIAM ALBERT GRAW-f r No. 760,851.

UNITED STATES Patented Mey 24, 1904. y

l PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM ALBERT CRAWFORD-FROST, oE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

KEY-OPEBATED RECORDING MEANS.

A SPECIFICATION femme part ef Let/efe Patent Ne. 760,851, dated Mey 24, 1904.

f' Applieeumfiiea .Tune 27, 1903.

l FORD-FROST, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have ,invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Operated Recording Means, of ywhich the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improveme'nts in key-operated recording means,

such asy type-'writers andother similar devices having keys arranged in rows and-adapted to be depressed by the operator. v The object of the invention is to provide two series of keys, eachY of which is adapted to be depressed by the ingers'of one hand, and the keys of each series lbeing arranged in columns, so as to adapt each column for one finger. l A further object is to curve the keys in horizontal and vertical planes,"so as to adapt them to the different length fingers of -4the hands, thereby preventing unnecessary movement of the muscles during the operation of the machine. 'p "A further'object is to provide mechanism by means of which the feet and knees of the operator may be used for depressing certain of thekeys, which are removed from the two series adapted to be controlled by the hands. Another object is to provide mechanism of novel construction by means vof which the platen of the machine may be partly turned and the carriage moved longitudinally without unnecessary movement by theV operator. f With the above' and-other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form of my inventio'mand in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a type- Writing machine having my improvement connected thereto. Fig.'` 2 is a rear elevation of "Serial No. 163,430. (No model.)

y thumbkeys,-andFig. 7 is aside elevation of of any suitable construction and having a laterally-movable carriage 3, provided withl a revoluble platen 4, connectedto a ratchetwheel 5.

' ing longitudinally thereof is a rod 6,5to which is pivoted a V-shaped arm 7, having a suitable knob or handle 8 at the apex thereof, and this arm is also pivoted to a lever 9, having a paWl 10 mounted thereon and normally engaging the ratchet-Wheel. The knob 8 is held in position at one side ofa keyboard. comprising a series of levers 11, upon the ends of which are arranged keys of novel construction and ar,-

'rangement These. keys are formed in two groups which are arranged at opposite sides of the machine, and each group is adaptedto be operated by the lingers of one hand. The keys of each group `are arranged in substantially parallel columns, and the keys 12 of the outer column of each group are curved or crescent-shaped and conform with thev contour of the end of the little linger. The keys 13 vand 14,which form the twomiddle columns of each group, are shaped to substantially conformv with the contour of the two middle fingers of the hand, While the keys 15, which .constitute the inner column of each group, are shaped to lit the ends of the first o1" index fingers. The

ranged between the two groups ofkeys and` Y 9o.

in advance thereof are oppositelyarranged crescent-shaped keys 16, which are shaped Ito lit the ends of the thumbs 4ofthe operator.

Secured to the carriage and extend d left-hand group of keys is provided withorily These keys 16 and the keys 15 and 12 are arranged in different planes to allow for the difference in'length of the lingers of the hand, thereby reducing the amount of motion by the lingers in operating or depressing the keys.

Arrangedbetween the supports 17 of the tableeis a cross-strip 18, to which are hinged, preferably, four .pedals 19, the rearends of IOO which are mounted in guide-brackets 2O and are supported normally by means of coiled springs 21 or other suitable devices which are connected to the top of the table in any preferred manner. The pedals 19 are connected, by means of rods 22, to levers 23, from which the keys ordinarily employed have been removed.

Hangers 24 are secured to the top of the table 1, and to each is pivoted a bell-crank lever 25, each of whichis connected to a strip 26, which is pivoted to one of the side supports 17 of the table. The other end of each bell-crank lever is connected, by means of a rod 27, with levers 28, similar to the levers 11 and 23; but the same are not provided with keys as ordinarily. One of these last-mentioned levers 28 is preferably connected to any suitable mechanism for shifting the carriage 3. The lever ordinarily depressed for forming a space between characters is preferably connected to one of the pedals 19.

In using this machine the operator places his feet upon the cross-strip 18, and the hands are heldin position over their respective groups of keys, with the thumbs above keys 16, the little fingers over the keys 12, and the remaining lingers over the intermediate keys 13, 14, and 15 of the lower row. It will be understood that as the keys of this row are of different heights the downward movement of each of the fingers will be the same when it is desired to press the key thereunder, and itis not necessary to move any one of the fingers forward into position over its key unless it is desired to depress one of the keys in the second or third rows. To do this, the proper finger is advanced into position over its key. When it is desired to form a space between characters, the proper pedal is depressed by one ofthe feet of the operator, and the other pedals may also be depressed by moving the feet laterally. The springs 21 will, as is obvious, always return the pedals to their normal positions. In order to shift the carriage, one of the knees is moved laterally against the adjoining pivoted strip 26 and causes the bellcrank lever connected thereto to swing upon its pivot and draw downward upon its rod 27. The other pivoted strip 26 is operated in the same manner for depressing the bar 28, connected thereto. When it is desired to partly turn the platen 4, it is merely necessary to move the right hand upwardly slightly until it contacts with the knob 8 or some portion of its arm 7, and said arm will be ycaused to swing upon the rod 6 and operate lever 9 so as to rotate the ratchet 5 by means of pawl 10. At the same time, if desired, lateral movement may be impartedto the carriage by pressing laterally on the knob 8 or its arm 7.

By arranging the keys in the manner herein described no lateral movement of any portion of the hands of the operator is necessary, except in making the carriage and line shifts,

and the only movement required is a slight forward and downward movement of the lingers; which movement is in proportion to the distance from the linger to the key to be depressed. As each finger is over its own column of keys, the labor of writing is evenly divided between all of thefingers of the hands, and the fatigue ordinarily incident to typewriting is materially reduced. Any form of machine may be employed, whether operated mechanically or electrically. The keys which are used the least are preferably connected to the pedals 19, one of said pedals, as before described, being reserved for use in spacing.

It will be understood that little experience is required in operating the machine, for the reason that the keys are directly under the fingers used for operating them, and therefore it is necessary to direct little attention to the operation of the device. f

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with type-operating bars; of keys arranged upon the bars in curved transversely-extending rows, the keys in each row having their upper vfaces at different elevations and shaped to conform to the contour of the ends'ofthe fingers to be contacted thereby.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with type-operating bars; of curved rows of keys upon the bars, the keys in each row having their upper faces at different elevations and the keys of the rows being arranged in columns, the keys in each column conforming in shape with the end of the finger employed for operating them.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with type-operating bars; of keys upon the bars and arranged in transversely-eXtending rows, the upper faces of thekeys in each row being arranged at different elevations and formed of different shapes to conform with the ends of the fingers employed for depressing them.

4. In a machine of the character described,V

the combination with type-operating bars; of groups of keys thereon, each group comprising curved rows of keys, the keys in each row having their upper faces at different elevations and the keys of all of the rows forming columns, the keys in each column being different in shape from the keys in the other columns, said shapes conforming to the contours of the ends of the fingers adapted to be used in depressing the keys.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with type-operating bars hav- IOO ISO

ing keys arranged thereon in curved transversely-extending rows, the keys in each row having their upper faces at dierent elevations and shaped to conform to the contour of 5 the ends of the fingers to be contacted thereby; of spring supported pedals pivotally mounted below the keys and their bars, guidebrackets for the pedals, rods connecting the pedals with typeeoperating bars, side strips I0 pivoted below the bars and their keys and adapted to be operated bythe knees of the operator, bell-Crank levers connected to said side strips, and rods connecting the levers with type-operating bars.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in I 5 presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ALBERT CRAWFORDFROST. Witnesses:

W. E. STOWMAN, H. C. MATHIEU. 

